The first time it happened, I was 13 years old and was out shopping with my mum. We were walking through Asda when suddenly my legs began to feel weak, next my hands became sweaty and I could feel pins and needles all over my body. Finally a sharp pain hit the back of my head and I collapsed. My mum called an ambulance immediately and I was taken into hospital. After an evening of being poked and prodded , I was sent home as my test results had all come back as normal. Following this event I would have this episode every few weeks, I attended constant appointments with doctors who told me they were not sure what was happening and had no idea on how to stop this without a diagnosis of what was actually wrong. Each time this happened I was rushed to the hospital where tests would be carried out to try and figure out what was happening to me. This went on for 6 years, first it was ruled out as vertigo, next I was told I was epileptic and finally I was referred to a Neurologist. From the years 2014 - 2016 I had 3 MRI scans a year, 9 in total. At first my results were always the same. Everything is fine. One day I had a severe episode, I was waiting to be picked up from college when I began feeling very warm, a hot flush ran through my body, followed by a sensation of pins and needles, I ran to the ladies room and vomited in the toilets. After that, my body had shut down. I could briefly hear what was happening around me and I could see through extremely blurred vision, nothing was clear. I could hear my mum but I was unable to speak to her. In a panic she took me to the closest hospital, as my college was the next town from where we lived. Physically, it looked like I was having a stroke. My inability to move my hands and legs, talk or even see and hear clearly. On top of all of this, one side of my body had completely drooped. I was sent to majors where everyone asked the question, ''how can a 16 year old be having a stroke??''. Of course they ran all their tests and again, it all came back normal. After this I had another MRI scan and during my appointment with my neurologist I explained what had happened. He ruled it off as 'Chronic Migraines' and explained to me that when my migraines are so severe my brains gets confused and sends out signals to the rest of my body, causing me to react in the ways which lead me hospital. After this, he signed me off and sent me home - that was our last appointment together. A report was sent to my GP who called me in to talk about medications. He prescribed a medicine called Propanlol, a beta-blocker. I tried this for two weeks but unfortunately I suffered from every side effect listed on the package, so I went back to the doctors who prescribed me with topirimate. At this point I was living alone and away from home as I had decided to go to university. This medication was also no help to my condition as I was still having regular migraines and I was still suffering from side effects. At this point, my migraines were so awful they caused me to miss almost all of my lectures. Luckily my tutors were understanding and sent me all work via email. I was bed bound and alone. My university set up a meeting for me with DSA - Disabled Students Allowance, where I explained this whole situation and they offered me a range of products to try and help with my migraines. for e.g: a computer that reads to you so you do not have to read off a laptop screen. I was extremely grateful for this however my health was just getting worse every day. Finally I decided to leave university , I finished my first year with great difficulty and managed to achieve a 2:1. Once I moved back home I began to look for work, as I get bored very easily. I found an amazing job at the Next Head Office as an International Advisor. The job was great and I really enjoyed it, however it was only a matter of time before my migraines began to play up again. In 5 months I had taken 5 sick occasions, 12 days off work. Each time was because I had been sent home due to the severity of my migraines. In the end I decided to leave as it was not good for my health and it wasn't fair on the business. After this I had hit depression, I am 20 years old and my life is wasting away, I cannot keep a job due to my health and I will never achieve my dream job because I am unable to get my degree. I am now testing a new medication, Amitriptaline. I have not had any side effects with this one but I still suffer from Migraines regularly, the advice I have been given up until now is basically, to just deal with it which has not been helpful as I now feel like my life my life has come to a halt and I do not know what I am doing or where my life is headed. So I am trying to deal with it.

My end goal is to become a Counselor, preferably a children's counsellor. I am unable to obtain a degree due to my health but there is a course I can do with 'The training room' It is all in my own time and on my own timetable. At the end I will have a certificate which will allow me to pursue my dream career. However, the price for this course fee £1,995 with a registration fee of £50. I have a little savings from my previous job but not enough to enrol onto this course.

It would mean so much to me if I could raise even a slight amount to help me reach this figure , each donation takes me one step closer to my end goal.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story,

zayna x

Please follow these links for information on Chronic migraines and The training room:

The training room

Chronic Migraines